A Great Way to Say "Thank You"

An Ohio heart transplant recipient, Adam Burkhart, is honoring the man who saved his life in a very special and unique way - he named his daughter, Mattyn, after him. There was a time when Adam did not know if he would live long enough to have a family, but now, thanks to his donor, Matthew, he is enjoying every day with his wife and two daughters.

English: The illustration shows the major signs and symptoms of heart failure. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At the age of six(6), Adam was diagnosed with familial cardiomyopathy. Unfortunately, the disease runs through this mother's side of his family. The disease did not affect Adam until one day, at the age of 17, he could not run anymore while playing soccer. Doctors diagnosed him with heart failure, and he learned a transplant was in his future. In September 2000, Adam received the life-saving heart transplant he needed and has been in good health since.

Since his transplant, Adam has advocated for organ and tissue donation and met the parents of his donor. When he asked them about naming his daughter after their heroic son, they were thrilled. What a great way to say "thank you" and continue the life-saving legacy of Adam's donor, Matthew.

If you would like to read more about Adam, Matthew, and Mattyn's story, you can do so on www.ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com in their article titled "Local Man Names His Daughter After Donor Who Saved His Life" by clicking here.

For more information about organ and tissue donation and to register as a donor where you live, please visit our website, https://SaveLivesTN.org/, by clicking here.

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New Test for Heart Transplant Rejection

Researchers at Stanford University have completed a study on a new method of checking for organ rejection in heart transplant recipients. The test, known as the cell free DNA test, simply measures the amount of the donor's DNA showing up in the recipient's blood. As these amounts increase, it indicates the early stages of rejection.

Unidentified persons in operating room (Photo credit: Stanford Medical History Center)

Currently, many heart transplant patients have to endure the invasiveness of a heart biopsy in order to check for rejection. These biopsies can cause problems of their own, including heart arrhythmia's and valve damage, not to mention the uncomfortableness of the biopsy. What may be even more important, though, is that the new blood test, could indicate the onset of rejection several months before it would be detected with a biopsy. As with other medical issues, early detection is often vital to successful treatment. Organ rejection is no different.

These findings are great news for heart transplant recipients. To read more of the article on www.HealthDay.com titled ""New Blood Test May Help Detect Heart Transplant Rejection", please click here.

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New Life After 26-Year Battle with Kidney Disease

Rebecca Miller is a trooper. After a 26-year battle with kidney disease, she received a kidney transplant from an anonymous living donor back on February 13th of this year. Her courageous story was recently reported by WSBT TV, where she was once the noon news anchor. The video of her story titled "Granger Woman Has New Kidney After Long Wait, Urges Others to Donate" is embedded below or can also be watched, or the text of the article read by clicking here.



Besides it being Rebecca's transplant date, February 13th is special to us at the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. for another reason - it was on that date 7 years ago that our Executive Director and Founder, Johnny Black, was listed for a heart transplant, which he received just 8 days later.

For more information about organ and tissue donation and how you can help save a life like Rebecca's and Johnny's donors did, please visit our website, www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here.

The 600th Heart Transplant

Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute will celebrate the 28th anniversary of its heart transplant program later this year. However, before reaching their anniversary, they passed another milestone. Doctors there recently performed their 600th heart transplant.

English: The 15-county Kansas City Metropolitan Area, with the approximate city limits of Kansas City, Missouri in red and counties in blue. (In regards to image uploaded 6 August 2005, 2230 CDT) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saint Luke's is one of the top transplant centers in the country and has the only adult heart transplant program in the Kansas City area. In fact, Saint Luke's has the only active transplant program for adults between Denver and Kansas City.

In addition to the milestones mentioned above, Saint Luke's :

• annually performs more heart transplants than 80% of heart transplant centers in the country,
• has averaged 37 heart transplants per year for the last 8 years when most other centers do less than 20,
• has shorter waiting times for transplants than most other U.S. transplant centers, and
• received the Medal of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for increasing the number of available organs.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as an organ and tissue donor in your state, please visit our website, www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here.

Read more - sacbee.com artitle titled "Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute Performs 600th Heart Transplant"                     ,

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900 Miles to Save Lives

Richard Gates recently completed a 900-mile bicycle ride to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation. The journey took Gates from Pittsburgh, PA to Boston, MA where he was met by the doctors and nurses who cared for him when he received his heart transplant almost 10 years ago.

Boston Skyline (Photo credit: brentdanley)

Gates referred to his trip as "Tour de Second Chance" and said he wanted people to understand that he was only able to make the long bike trip because someone had chosen to be an organ donor. He also hoped it showed transplant patients they can lead full lives after their transplant.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor in the state where you live, please visit our website, www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here.

Read more : boston.cbslocal.com article titled "Heart Transplant Recipient Arrives in Boston After 900-Mile Bike Ride"

30-Years and Counting

Orlando DeFelice recently reached a milestone - the 30-year anniversary of his heart transplant. It makes him one of the longest-living heart transplant patients ever. When he had his transplant in 1983, doctors felt he would die within four days if he did not receive one. Furthermore, the doctors said the odds he would survive five years after his transplant were only 50/50.

English: The old hospital building in Cape Town where the first human heart transplant was done by Dr Barnard in December 1967. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

DeFelice is not alone in reaching the 30-year heart transplant mark. Others have already achieved it. In fact, an Ohio man reached the 31-year mark before dying in 2009. A British man reached the 30-year milestone last year. Additionally, several others who received heart transplants at John Hopkins, where DeFelice received his, are just a few years away from the 30-year mark.

The road to DeFelice's 30-year heart transplant anniversary has not been easy. There have been some bumps in the road. For instance, he had to have a kidney transplant in 2010 as a complication from his immunosuppressant regimen. He's also battled skin cancer. However, overall he has done well and is happy to be able to enjoy life again thanks to his new heart.

DeFelice still works as an accountant, plays golf, goes on walks, and bike rides. He is thankful for his transplant. He stresses the importance of organ and tissue donation saying, "You (the recipient) can go out and do the things you were planning to do before the disease got you."

Orlando DeFelice was fortunate to receive his heart transplant and a second chance at life 30 years ago. However, there are 119,000 Americans currently waiting on the same opportunity. Sadly, 19 of those waiting die every day simply because a match does not come in time. The good news is that you can help them receive the same second chance that Orlando did by registering as an organ and tissue donor.

To learn how to register, or for more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit our website, www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here.

Read more : www.BaltimoreSun.com article titled "Hopkins Patient Marks 30-Year Anniversary of Heart Transplant"

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18 Heart Attacks Lead to Heart and Liver Transplant

Mike Mader is one man who is fortunate to be alive. He has a genetic disorder known as familial hypercholesterolemia. His liver cannot process cholesterol. As a child, his cholesterol was 400+, and it led to his very first heart attack at just 22 years of age.

Spacefill model of the Cholesterol molecule (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At only 31 years of age and after a wait of over two years, Mike received a life-saving heart and liver transplant back on April 23rd. Prior to the double transplant, he was told by his doctors ... "that he needed to get his affairs in order ...", according to his mother. Now, Mike says he, "Couldn't feel better. Never happier in my life."

Mike is now enjoying life and the risk of more, multiple heart attacks is gone, because a caring donor and their family cared enough to give the gift of life. You can help save a life, too, by visiting our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here. There, you can learn more about organ and tissue donation and even register as a donor in the state where you live.

Read more - article on kutv.com titled "After 18 Heart Attacks, Man Undergoes Successful Double Organ Transplant Surgery"

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Enjoying the Simple Things for 20 Extra Years

A Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Twenty years ago, Gary Bullion of Wisconsin was just a few days from death. Then, he heard his doctor utter the hope-giving words Gary had been waiting for - "We have a heart for you."

Last month, Gary celebrated the 20-Year Anniversary of his life-saving heart transplant. Today, thanks to a teenage donor, Gary enjoys the simple things in life. For instance, he :

• saw his third grandchild born,
• grows milkweed for monarch butterflies,
• plays in a band, 
• builds things, and 
• sketches wildlife.

Gary is another example of how organ donation truly makes a difference in people's lives. In many cases, like Gary's for example, the recipients are given their lives back allowing them to spend additional time with their family and resume the hobbies they enjoy.

If you have not registered as an organ and tissue donor yet, we encourage you to do so. Currently, there are over 118,000 Americans on the waiting list for life-saving organ transplants. Sadly, 18 of them die each day waiting on a match.

You can help out by visiting our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here to learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor in the state where you live.

Read more - article on www.GazetteExtra.com titled "Edgerton Man Marks 20th Anniversary of Heart Transplant"

A New Record

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (Photo credit: Stanford Medical History Center)

April 22, 2013 was not an ordinary day for the transplant teams at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in California. They set a new record for the hospital when they performed five organ transplants in just 24 hours. The five transplants included :

• a liver transplant for a 2-year-old boy, 
• a liver transplant for a 15-year-old girl,
• a heart transplant for a 3-year-old boy, 
• a kidney transplant for a 15-year-old boy, and
• a kidney transplant for a 14--year-old girl.

A little more than a month later, the doctors say that all five patients are doing well. They have a future of endless possibilities in front of them. They will have the opportunity to grow up, go to college, begin their careers, get married, have children, and more thanks to the gift of life they received from their donors. These kids are truly blessed.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as a donor in the state where you live, please visit our website, www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here.

Read more - online.wsj.com article titled "Five Transplants in 24 Hours Sets Packard Children's Record"

Alabama Children Have Another Transplant Alternative

Pediatric transplant patients in Alabama have a new, more convenient alternative. Recently, Children's of Alabama received approval from UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) to begin solid organ transplants. Children's will be performing heart, liver, and kidney transplants.

Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children (Photo credit: Dystopos)

Additionally, pediatric transplant patients have a one-stop shop at Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children. Until now, their pre-transplant testing would be done at Children's. Then, they would be taken to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for the actual transplant and be transported back to Children's for post-transplant care. The back-and-forth was not very convenient for the patients' families, nor was it easy on the young patients.

With UNOS' approval and the completion of the brand new $400 Million Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children, all pediatric transplant care is in one facility. It's a win-win for everyone, but especially for the patients.

For more information on organ and tissue donation, including how to register in the state where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc.'s website at https://www.SaveLivesTN.org/ by clicking here.

Read more - cbs42.com article titled "Childrens' Approved to Perform Solid Organ Transplant Surgery"

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A Special Christmas

Doctors at Emory University Hospital recently achieved a first for a hospital based in Georgia - a triple organ transplant. In doing so, they gave 38-year-old Stephanie Lindstrom an opportunity to spend another Christmas with her family.

Diagram of the human heart 1. Superior Vena Cava 2. Pulmonary Artery 3. Pulmonary Vein 4. Mitral Valve 5. Aortic Valve 6. Left Ventricle 7. Right Ventricle 8. Left Atrium 9. Right Atrium 10. Aorta 11. Pulmonary Valve 12. Tricuspid Valve 13. Inferior Vena Cava (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stephanie was born with a congenital heart defect. Her heart did not have a tricuspid valve, which keeps blood moving through the heart in the right direction. As a girl, she had four surgeries to correct the problem. Then, after college, she developed an additional heart valve problem - mitral valve regurgitation. Doctors determined that the mitral valve problem needed to be corrected, too.

Stephanie's multiple heart surgeries had failed to correct her heart problems. It was determined that she needed not only a heart transplant, but also a liver transplant, because her heart failure had caused liver failure. On top of that, Stephanie had become septic which resulted in kidney damage and the need for a kidney transplant.

Stephanie received the life-saving heart and liver transplants she needed on July 7, 2012 and her kidney transplant the next day. After spending three months in the hospital, she went home in October and spent a special Christmas with her family. She said, "The holiday season has truly taken on such a special meaning to my family and me this year because of the many gifts we have been given."

Interestingly, Stephanie's new heart, liver, and kidney all came from the same donor who is a hero that The Lindstrom Family will be forever grateful to. For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as an organ and tissue donor where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc.'s website by clicking here.

Read more : article on news.emory.edu titled "Emory Performs First Triple Organ Transplant in Georgia"

Triple-Transplant Recipient

Below is a video of a news report about a South Carolina woman who recently received a triple-organ transplant, including heart, liver, and kidney. We have embedded the video report below, or you can watch it and read the article by clicking here.

FOX Carolina 21

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to register as a donor in the state where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

Read more : article on www.FoxCarolina.com titled "Woman Recovers from Heart, Liver, and Kidney Transplants"

Making A Difference

Back in March of this year, a young man named Ty Osman was attending college in Arkansas when he began a spring break trip to Texas. Unfortunately, he never reached his destination, because he perished in a traffic accident en route. To one Texas man, though, and his family, Ty will always be remembered as a hero.

Peritoneal dialysis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kelly Barnes was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age. By 2011, he found himself on dialysis, because his kidneys were failing. When young Ty passed away in that tragic accident, however, Kelly received Ty's pancreas and one of his kidneys and is no longer on dialysis nor does he need insulin. According to Barnes, "Because of the organs I received from Osman, I can look forward to a long healthy life."

Last month, Barnes got to meet Ty's family at a special ceremony at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Texas. Ty's family, including his mother, his father, and two sisters, joined Barnes for the hospital's dedication of the Wall of Heroes which honors organ and tissue donors. Ty's mother, Nancy, was very happy to meet Barnes saying, "It's a blessing. I'm glad to see that Ty is still making a difference in the lives of others, even after his death."

Ty also donated his other kidney, heart, liver, and lungs saving additional lives. If you would like more information on organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here. While visiting the site, you can also learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor in the state where you live.

Read more : article on www.news-journal.com titled "Organ Donation Changes Lives" 

Sorrow Turned to Joy

Transplant recipients and their donor families always cherish the first time they meet face-to-face. For the recipients, it provides an opportunity to personally say "Thank You." For a donor family, they get to see firsthand the difference that their loved one made in the recipient's life. Oftentimes, those special moments give the donor family the joy and peace that they've been wanting ever since their loved one passed away, because they see that their spouse, parent, child, sibling, etc. is living on.

Please watch the special video embedded below (can also be watched by clicking here) of a donor mom meeting her son's heart recipient for the first time. Donor family / recipient meetings show how grief can quickly turn into joy. These special moments are the reason the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc., and others, work so hard to promote organ and tissue donation.

If you would like more information on organ and tissue donation, including how to register as a donor where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Read more : TheStir.CafeMom.com article titled "Devastated Mom Hears Dead Son's Heartbeat in Medical Miracle"

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N.Y. Yankees to Promote Organ Donation

Tomorrow night, the N. Y. Yankees will help promote organ donation. 24-year old Colby Salerno will throw out the pitch before the Yankees' game with their arch rival - the Boston Red Sox. Salerno is a little more than two months out from receiving a life-saving heart transplant.

English: Stadium of the New York Yankees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During his hospitalization, Salerno received a call from Yankees' Manager Joe Girardi. Girardi called on behalf of the team to see if there was anything the Yankees could do for him. Salerno's response was to ask the team to help promote organ donation. So, tomorrow night not only will Salerno throw out the first pitch, each fan entering the stadium will receive information about organ and tissue donation and an announcement will be made during the game encouraging fans to register as donors.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here. Also, be sure to visit Colby Salerno's blog, Tales from the Tenth Floor, by clicking here. On his blog, he writes about his experience with organ donation.

Read more : www.connecticut.cbs.local.com article titled "Transplant Patient in Ceremony at Yankee Stadium"

80 Year-Old to Celebrate 25th Heart Transplant Anniverary

Doris Thomas of Marseilles, IL is steadily approaching another major milestone. So far, she has :

1. become the first person to receive a heart transplant in Peoria, IL,
2. celebrated her 80th birthday, and
3. on April 27th, she will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her heart transplant.

Location map of Peoria, Illinois (Photo credit: Wikipedia

She was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy in early 1987 after collapsing while cooking in the restaurant where she worked. She had been short of breath for some time but thought it was asthma. At the time, doctors estimated she only had a 25% chance of living through 1987. She, obviously, defied those odds.

Doris has enjoyed great health since her transplant 25 years ago, except for two bouts with cancer. She has raised a grandson and met several other grandchildren, including a great-granddaughter. In regards to her good fortune, Doris is very grateful to her donor. "They gave me 25 more years," she said.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here. If you have not yet registered as an organ and tissue donor, you can learn how to do so on our website, too. Who knows, one day you might be the hero that gives someone like Doris 25 extra years of life.

Read more - pjstar.com article titled "At 80-years-old, Peorias First Heart Transplant Patient Remains a Survivor"

Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. Now Open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TENNESSEE ORGAN DONATION FOUNDATION, INC.

AIMS TO EDUCATE

New nonprofit hopes to increase number of registered donors in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet resident Johnny Black has formed the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc., a new nonprofit organization, whose mission is to educate Tennesseans about the importance of organ and tissue donation and to increase the number of registered donors.

“We want people to know that organ and tissue donation is not about death, but rather about life,” said Black, a heart recipient and Executive Director of the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. “Five years ago, I could have been a statistic – one of the 19 Americans who die each day waiting on a life-saving organ transplant. However, my life was saved because a man I had never met, named Kent, cared enough to register as an organ and tissue donor.”

Black, who lives in Mount Juliet, founded the organization in Nov. 2011 because he perceived a great need to improve public education and awareness about organ and tissue donation in his home state of Tennessee. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised solely of members of the transplant community, including an organ recipient (Black), a donor family member, Doris Gray, and a living donor, George Blank. The Board’s unique makeup ensures that the organization will always have the best interests of people in need of transplants as its number one priority. Each Board member is personally invested in the cause of organ and tissue donation because of his/her own experience with its life-saving and life-improving qualities.

The organization plans to hold various events in Davidson and surrounding counties and will distribute informational literature, answer questions about organ and tissue donation, and convince more Tennesseans to register as organ and tissue donors. In addition, the Foundation plans to hold speaking engagements in the area in order to share the personal stories of organ and tissue recipients and donors and their family members.

For more information about the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. and to learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit www.SaveLivesTN.org.

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